U L M Lands Huge Juco Recruit Class

[MeanGreen61]

Football Lands Huge Junior College Recruiting Class

Courtesy: ULMAthletics.com

Release: 12/19/2007

MONROE, La.—ULM football head coach Charlie Weatherbie announced the signing of five junior college players to National Letters of Intent to play for the Warhawks next season.

The signings come just weeks after ULM wrapped up its most successful season since moving to Division I-A in 1994. The Warhawks finished the year 6-6 and were bowl eligible after winning five of their final six games of the year, including a 21-14 victory at Alabama. ULM was the only team in the Sun Belt Conference to defeat two teams playing in bowl games (Alabama and Florida Atlantic).

“We have a lot of very talented young players in our program, but it is good to fill in some spots with junior college players,” ULM head coach Charlie Weatherbie said. “The positions where we felt we needed some immediate help were addressed by this junior college class.”

The class is made up of center Keating Helms, cornerback Otis Stamps and defensive tackles Alex Ford, Thomas Robinson and Aaron Williams.

“We are really excited about this group of players and can’t wait to get them on campus,” Weatherbie said. “Our coaches did an outstanding job recruiting and scouting these players, most of which happened during the playing season.”

Helms was the centerpiece of the offensive line for the National Junior College Athletic Association National Champion Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Bulldogs.

The 6-foot-2, 285-pound Gulf Port, Miss., native, helped pave the way for two players to rush for over 800 yards and 23 touchdowns. The Bulldogs averaged 247.9 yards per game on the ground en route to a perfect 12-0 record.

“He is a strong, physical player, who has played in the type of system we use,” Weatherbie said. “He has to replace a four-year starter in Adam Hill, but he is a proven winner coming from a national championship team and we think he has the chance to be a real fine football player.”

Ford, Robinson and Williams teamed up on the defensive line at Pearl River Community College. The trio helped Pearl River finish fourth in its region allowing only 113.6 yards per game on the ground and second through the air allowing just 125.4 yards per game.

Ford chose the Warhawks over Kansas State and Alabama. The 6-foot-2, 305-pound Poplar, Miss., native is very athletic and played middle linebacker for his high school team.

The pair of Robinson and Williams are very similar physically both checking it a 6-foot-0 with Robinson weighing 280 pounds and Williams weighing 285 pounds.

“All three players are very physically similar to outgoing senior David Cooper,” Weatherbie said. “They are very quick and athletic and should come in and make an immediate impact inside.”

Stamps is one of the top cornerbacks in the region. The 5-foot-10, 183-pound Vicksburg, Miss., native had six interceptions as a freshman tying him for tops in the region and finished second in the region this year with four picks.

Stamps helped Hinds Community College lead the region in pass defense allowing only 121.6 yards per game and finish third in total defense allowing a paltry 238.0 yards per contest.

“We recruited Otis out of high school, but he decided to go the junior college route,” Weatherbie said. “We are really excited to have him join our program, he is going to be a fine addition to our group of cornerbacks. He is good enough to play one-on-one man defense and has a great knack for coming down with the ball.”

Edited December 20, 2007 by MeanGreen61